Selective telephone system.



W. F. MARTEN.

SELEGTIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLIOATIION FILED JUNE 3, 1911'.

Patented June 11,1912.

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W. F. MA'RTEN.

SELECTIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

1,029,504, Patented June 11, 1912.

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W. P. MARTEN.

SELECTIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION TILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented June 11, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

was. at w COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPl-l c0.,wAsmNuToN, D. c.

W. F. MARTEN.

SELECTIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

1,029,504. Patented June 11, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wrmzsszs F715. 2 INVENTOR CIJLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., WASHINGTQN. D1 c.

WILLIAM F. MARTEN, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SELECTIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1911.

PatentedJune 11, 1912.

Serial No. 631,026.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MARTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Selective Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved selective system for telephones or the like, the object of the invention being to provide a system of this character which will be simple in construction and operation, and accurate and certain in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side view of the main portion of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is another side view of the same; Fig. 4 is a side view of the interrupter wheel and the parts immediately connected therewith; Fig. 5 is a broken front view of the same; Fig. 6 is an end view of the spring contact shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a .detail front view of the operating mechanism for said interrupter wheel; Fig; 8 is a plan view of said main portion of the mechanism; Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the selecting wheel; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken immediately above the selecting wheel, the coils being omitted; Fig. 11 is a similar view taken below the selector wheel; Fig. 12 is a side view of the selector wheel detached; Fig. 13 is a side view of an operating arm therefor; Fig. 14 is an end view of the same; Fig. 15 is perspective view of two guides; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a contact arm; Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20, are detail side views showing the engagement of an operating arm with the selecting wheel in successive positions.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a base plate,. upon which are erected three standards 2. To said standards are attached, respectively, the releasing coils 3, the selecting coils 4, and the connecting coils 5. iii-matures 6, 7, and 8 are suitably pivoted upon the base, and are adapted to be attracted respectively by the several coils. Each of said armatures have extensions above said coils, and to said extensions are connected, respectively, horizontal links 9,

Upon the upper ends-of said standards is mounted a horizontal plate or disk 13 to which is secured a lower cross bar 14, on the ends of which are posts 15, to which posts is secured an upper cross bar 16. Also extending from said plate 13 is a bar 17, 4

(Fig. 2) bent first upward and then inward, to provide bearings 18 for a vertical shaft 19'. Similar shafts 20, 21 have their bearings 21 carried by the upper and lower crossbars 14, 16, near their ends. Secured centrally in said upper and lower cross bars are bearings 22 for a central vertical shaft 23, which carries a selector wheel 24 act-uated by a coiled spring 25.

The link 9 of the releasing coils, attached at one end to the extension of the armature 6, is pivotally attached at the other end, as shown at 27, to an arm 28 extending from the vertical shaft 19 and normally pressed by a spring 30, against an adjustable stop 31 (Figs. 10, 11,). Said vertical shaft 19 also carries an arm 32, upon the end of which is pivoted a dog 33, pressed by a spring 34 into engagement with one of a series of teeth 35 depending from the wheel 24. In the selective movement of rotation of said wheel, to select a caller, as hereinafter described, said dog 33 permits said teeth 35 to pass, but is caused to engage said teeth by said spring 34. But, upon the energization of the releasing coils, the armature 6 is attracted, and, by the movement of the link 9, said dog 33 is withdrawn from said teeth, allowing said wheel to return to its normal or zero position, in which an upwardly extending tooth 54 of said selector wheel abuts against a stop 57 depending from the upper cross bar 16, (Figs. 2, 12). Said shaft 19 also carries a third arm 37, on the end of which is secured a resilient catch 38 adapted to engage one of two notches 39, 40, formed in the edge of a portion 92 of a connecting arm 41, hereinafter more particularly described, said catchlocking said connecting arm in its operative position. Upon the energization of said releasing coils, said catch 38 is withdrawn from said connecting arm 41 and permits it to return to normal position. It will thus be seen that by the energization of said release coils, both the selecting wheel and the connecting arm can be returned to normal position, and, by the electrical connections hereinafter described, a line which has been in use can be cleared.

The link 10 of the selector coils is con nected to an arm 43 on the shaft 20, said arm being pressed by a spring 44 against an adjustable stop 45. Also secured to said shaft 20 is an arm 46, the free end of which has an upwardly extending portion 47, (Figs.

tooth for each movement of said arm, that is, for each energization of said selector magnets. This object is attained by forming the free end of the arm with a horizontally extending portion 49, and providing upon the cross bar 14 an upright 50, the upper end of which is extended horizontally, and is bifurcated to provide two guides 52, 53, spaced from each other. The resiliency of the arm-46 is sufficient, when in a position rearward, or to the left, of the first guide 52 to move said arm so that the horizontal portion 49 of its free end is above the level of the front edge of said first guide 52. Said guide 52 slopes slightly upward from said front edge, so that, when, by the attraction of the selector armature, the horizontally extending portion 49 of the arm 46 is moved over said first guide, said arm is also raised, and its upper portion or pawl 47 is brought into engagement with one of said ratchet teeth to advance the same, and also, by its position between two ratchet teeth, to prevent said selecting wheel being moved more than one tooth at a time, since the movement of the arm itself is limited by the contact of the armature 7 with its magnet. At the end of said movement, the portion 49 of said arm 46 rests upon the second guide 53. Upon the breaking of the circuit of the selector coils, the armature returns, under the action of the spring 44, and, by reason of the level of the front edge of the second guide 53 being below the level of the rear edge of the first guide 52, the portion 49 of the arm, in its return movement, passes underneath the first guide to its former position. In this position it contacts with a wire bumper 55, supported by the upright 50, which contacts with the portion 49 and prevents vibration of the arm 46, which vibration might have the effect of moving it tem- ,porarily into such a position that, when the selector coils were again energized, the horizontal portion 49 would not be at the proper level to ride over the first guide 52.

The selecting magnets are energized a number of times in succession by means of an interrupter wheel 60, (Figs. 4, 5) the periphery of which is formed with obtuseif angled teeth 61, corresponding in number to the several stations on the line, and which is mounted on a shaft 62 rotated by a spring 63, said shaft having also a ratchet wheel 64, having the same number of teeth as the 6 disk 60, and engaged by a pawl 65, secured on a gear wheel 66 on said shaft 62, said gear wheel meshingwith a pinion 67 on an escapement 70, to regulate the speed at which the disk 60 is rotated by the spring 63. The periphery of the disk 60 is also formed with a wide notch 72, which, in the position of rest, is engaged by a hump 73 on a contact spring 74 which is adjacent to another contact spring 75. When the disk is rotated, the several teeth 61 thereof engage said hump and close the circuit between the two contacts 74, 75, and the notches between the teeth receive the hump and allow the circuit to open. Adjacent to the disk 60 are mounted five contact springs 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 (Figs. 4, 5, 6). Two of these springs 77, 79, are of greater length than the others and their ends are adapted to be engaged by an insulated stem 81, so that, when the disk 60 is at rest, said stem is caused, by the pressure of the spring 63, to press againstthe ends of said spring contacts 77 and 79 and press them against the spring contacts 78, 80. The resiliency of these springs 7 7 7 9, is however, such that, when the insulating stem is moved from the position of rest, the circuit through the con tacts 77 78, is broken, and also bet-ween the contacts 7 9, 80, and the contact 77 makes contact with the contact 76. The disk 60 is provided with a casing 85 having thereon a circular series of numbers 83, corresponding to the several stations, so that the calling subscriber, desiring to call a certain station, can, by means of a handle 84, move the disk to a position in which the handle 84 is opposite to the number 83 of the station to be called, and, upon releasing said handle 84, the disk will automatically return, under the action of the spring 63, so that, according to the number of teeth between the position to which it has been turned and the position of rest, it will vibrate the contact 74, and make and break the circuit between the contacts 74, 75, the corresponding number of times in succession, thereby sending impulses over the line which will cause the selector wheels to advance the corresponding number of movements, and thereby move the selector wheel of the called subscriber into its operative position to effect the call.

The link 11 of the connecting magnets is connected to an arm 87 pivoted upon a shaft 21 and pressed by a spring 89 against the adjustable stop 90. Said shaft 21 has secured thereon one end of an arm 41, the outer portion of which is extended, first horizontally in a direction approximately radial to the selector wheel, as shown at 92, and then vertically, as shown at 93, and is provided at its upper end with two spring contacts 94, 95, of which the upper 94 is adapted to contact with either of two contact springs 96, 97 and the lower 95 is adapted to contact with a contact spring 98. The upper contact springs 96, 97, are secured to the upper lower side, of a plate 42 secured to the cross bar 16. The wheel 24 is formed wit-h a deep notch 99, formed by the opening left when the tooth 54 has been stamped from the wheel and bent at right angles thereto, and said upwardly extending portion 93 of the arm 41 is adapted, in the position of rest, or zero, to enter or pass through said deep notch 99, in which position the upper contact 94 makes contact with the contact 97, and the lower contact 95 also makes contact with the contact 98. When the releasing coils are energized, said arm 41 is released, and is moved out of said deep not-ch by the action of the spring 89, so that the selecting wheel is free to be advanced a suitable distance corresponding to the number of the called station. Said selecting wheel is pro' vided wit-h another deep notch 100, which notch is in various angular positions of the wheel for the several stations on the line,

and the position of which notch 100 determines which station is called.

lVhen the selector wheels have all been advanced a proper number of movements, that of the subscriber to be called will be in such a position that the deep notch 100 therein will be immediately opposite to the vertical portion 93 of the arm 41. At the same time, owing to the stoppage of the interrupting wheel, the current is, by means of the circuits hereafter. explained, sent through the connecting coils, so that the arm 41 is caused to move inward into said deep notch 100. Said arm 41 thereby closes the upper contact between 94 and 97 and the lower contact 95 and 98.

The wheel 24 is also formed with a series of shallow notches 101. The connecting coils of all the subscribers are likewise energized on the stoppage of the interrupting wheel, and their arms 41 moved toward, but by reason of the notches 101 of all the other subscribers opposite to the arm 41 being shallow, said arm, while moving inward sufficiently to close the upper contacts 94, 97, does not move inward suflicientto close the lower contacts 95, 98. The object of this is to leave in the circuit the cut-out coils of all the subscribers, and not leave in the circuit any of the telephone 126 of said subscribers. It also cuts out the selecting circuit of all the subscribers.

Referring to the diagrammatic Fig. 1 of the drawings 102 indicates the push button which is used for clearing the line. Said push button is connected by a wire 103 with the ground. It is also connected by a wire 105 with one side of the magneto or battery 106, (in case a battery is used, a push button is necessary to supply current) the other side of which is connected by a wire 107 with the contact 77 operated in the manner hereinbefore described, which can make connection with either of the two contacts 76 and 78. Said contact 78 is connected by a wire 110 with a line wire 111, which is connected by a wire 112 with the releasing coils 3. The other side of said releasing coils is connected by a wire 113 with a contact 97, which, before the line is cleared, is in contact with a contact 94 carried by the armature 8 of the connecting coils, said contact 94 being connected to the ground by a wire 114. When the line has been in use and be-1 fore it has been cleared, the contact 77 is in contact with the contact 78 and the contact 97 is in contact with the contact 94. Consequently on pressing the clearing or push button 102, a circuit is made through the battery 106, wire 107, contact 77, contact 78, wire 110, line wire 111, wire 112, releasing coils 3, wire 113, contact 97, contact 94, wire 114 to ground, wire 103, push button 102, wire 105, battery 106. Thereby the releasing coils are energized, the armature 6 is attracted, the wheel 24 is returned to zero, and the armature 8 is released. This causes the contact 94 to make connection with the contact 96, and also, in case the arm 93 was i11- one of the deep notches, 99 or 100, the contact 95 is also moved by said armature, thus breaking the circuit between said contact and the contact 98. The calling subscriber now rotates the interrupter wheel 60 and causes a series of successive impulses to be imparted to the selector wheel 24, so that, when the wheel has rotated a predetermined number of movements, its deep notch 100 shall be in such a position as to allow the line wires being closed through the tele phone of the party called.

lVhile the selector wheel is in motion the contact 77 is in electric connection with the contact 76. During this period, since the contact 79, 80 of the calling station are open, the current flows as follows -from the bat tery 106, wire 107, contact 77, contact 76, wire 118-, contact 74, contact 75, wire 119, to the ground, thence by wire 114, contact 94, contact 96, wire 120, selecting coils 4, wire 121, contacts 80, 79 (of all the other stations on the line except the calling station which contacts are then closed upon the other stations but open on the calling station) wire 122, a line wire 123, wire 124, push button 102, which is not now depressed, wire 105 to the battery. An intermittent current is thus transmitted through said selecting coils of the other stations, which intermittently energizes said coils, and advances their selecting wheels a predetermined number of movements, until the selecting wheel of the station being called has arrived in such a position that the deep notch 100 therein is in a position to close the circuit through the telephone, the selecting wheels in all the other stations being in the position in which the circuits through their telephones are not closed. The interrupter wheel. being now at the line wires which are not called willno-t be;in circuit,'for the circuit through their telephones is broken at the contacts 95,:98. But the circuit through the telephones 126 of the station called will be closed, the remainder of the circuit being as follows by the wire 127 from the line wire 111, bell circuit in the telephone 126, wire 128, contact98, contact 95, wire 129 .and line wire 123. The contacts 95, 98, of this station are closed, because the armature 8 is permitted to be fully attracted by the connecting coils 5 on account of the deep notch 100 of the selecting wheel of this stat-ion being in proper position, whereas the armatures 8 of 5 the other stations are not so permitted. Upon the called subscriber raising his receiver from the hook, the hook will rise, cutting out the bell circuit, and cutting in the telephone circuit. The telephone circuit of the 0 caller is cut in in like.manner, because the selector wheel of the calling subscriber does not, rotate, the reason being that the contacts 79, 80, are open while the interrupter is operated. Consequentlythe selector wheel of the calling subscriber is at that time in zero position. In such position the deep notch 99 operates in the same manner as the notch .100 when contacts 79 and 80 are closed. The hooks of both the calling and called sub- 4 scribers being raised, each hook operates a a switch 131, which short circuits the line 111 with the ground by a wire 132, so that if any other subscriber tries to clear by pressing the push button 102, the current,

'45 instead of traveling through the releasing coils, will travel by the line of little resistance direct to the ground.

Sometimes it is desirable to call all the telephones on the circuit. To do this, the in- 5oterrupter wheel is not rotated, but the circuit is closed, as by turning the magneto crank. The result will be that the arm 93 will enter the deep notch 99, which will effect closures through the bell circuits of all the telephones in the same way as was described for the bell circuit of the called telephone.

I claim 1. In combination with two line wires, and, at each station, selecting coils in a branch circuit between one line wire and the ground, releasing coils in a branch circuit between the other line wire and the ground, connecting coils between the two line wires,-means for closing any one of said branch circuits, andmeans whereby, when saidconnecting circuit is closed, said selecting circuit is broken, substantially as described.

2. :In combination with two line wires, and, at each station, selecting coils in a 7G branch circuitbetween one line wire and the ground, releasing coils in a branch circuit between the other line wire and the ground, connecting coils between the two line wires, means :for closing any one of said branch circuits, and means whereby, when said circuit through the connecting coils is broken, the circuit through the release coils is also broken and the circuit through'the selecting coils is closed, sub stantially as described.

3. The combination of two line wires, connecting coilslatthe several stations of the line connected to both line wires, releasing coils at'the several stations inte-r- 5 posed between one line wire and the ground,

a switch in the local circuit of each releasing coil, means whereby the energization of each releasing coil withdraws the armature of'the corresponding connecting coil, 90. and means whereby the withdrawal of said armature breaks the circuit through said local circuit, substantially as described.

41. The combination of two line wires, telephone branch circuits atthe several stations of the line connected to both line wires, releasing coils at the several stations interposed'between one line wire and the ground, a switch operated by each releasing coil, and means whereby the energization of each of said releasing coil circuits breaks the corresponding branch telephone circuit, substantially as described.

5. The combination of two line wires, releasing coils at the several stations of the 05 line interposed between one of said line wires and the ground, selecting coils at said stations interposed between the other line wire and the ground, switches at the several stations, also interposed between the first line wire and the ground, and means actuated by the energization of the releasing coils to open the circuits through the releasing coils and close those through the selecting coils, substantially as described.

6. The combination of two line wires, releasing coils at the several stations of the line, conductors through said releasing coils from one of said line wires to the ground, selecting coils at the several stations,branch circuits through said selecting coil from the other line wire to the ground, devices adapted, when actuated, to open a break in each of the conductors and to close a break in the corresponding circuit, a conductor at each station vfrom the first line wire to the ground, a switch in said latter conductor, and means actuated by the energization of each releasing coil for actuating the corresponding device, substantially as described.

7. The combination of two line wires, releasing coils at the several stations of the line, branch circuits through said releasing coils from one of said line wires to the ground, selecting coils at the several stations, branch circuits through said selecting coils from the other line wire to the ground, devices adapted to open a break in each of the first-named circuits and to close a break in the corresponding second-named circuit, a conductor at each station from the first line wire to the ground, a switch in said conductor, means actuated by the energization of each releasing coil for so actuating the corresponding device, a selector wheel adapted to be set in motion by the closure of said switch, and means actuated by said selector wheel when in motion for causing a break in said conductor, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a line wire, and, at each station an interrupter wheel, a selector wheel, electromagnetic means for advancing said selector wheel, a branch conductor through said means from the ground to the linewire, said conductor being adapted to be broken only when said interrupter is in motion, a second branch conductor to ground, and in said latter conductor a switch adapted to be closed only when the interrupter is in motion, and a second switch adapted to be opened and closed in termittently by the movement of said in terrupter, substantially as described.

9. The combination of two line wires, and, at each station, a selector wheel having two deep notches therein, one at zero or normal position, and the other at various angular positions for the several stations, a local circuit, coils therein for actuating said selector wheel, means whereby, when either of said deep notches is at a certain position in the revolution of the selector wheel, the local circuit is connected with the line wires, an interrupter wheel, a contact intermittently closed by the rotation of said interrupter wheel, and two pairs of contacts, one of which is in the circuit through the selector coils, and is closed when said interrupter wheel is at rest and open when it is in motion, and the other is in the same circuit as the intermittently closed contact and is closed when the interrupter .wheel is in motion and open when it is at rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM F. MARTEN. 'Witnesses F. M. WRIGHT, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

